Contribution of 3D modelling and printing to learning in primary schools: a case study with visually impaired students from an inclusive Biology classroom

Contemporary education adopts various new visualisation techniques for content to be learned. Recently, research on the application of 3D modelling and printing (3DMP) has been expanding. However, as the latest literature reviews indicate, little research is available on the contribution of 3DMP to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biological education Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 795 - 811
Main Authors: Anđić, Branko, Lavicza, Zsolt, Ulbrich, Eva, Cvjetićanin, Stanko, Petrović, Filip, Maričić, Mirjana
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Routledge 07.08.2024
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:
3D modelling and printing
Biology
Case studies
Classrooms
Educational Facilities Improvement
Elementary Education
Elementary Schools
Grounded Theory
inclusion
Misconceptions
Printing
Science Education
Students
Students with blindness
Visual Impairments
ISSN:0021-9266, 2157-6009
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Contemporary education adopts various new visualisation techniques for content to be learned. Recently, research on the application of 3D modelling and printing (3DMP) has been expanding. However, as the latest literature reviews indicate, little research is available on the contribution of 3DMP to learning of students with blindness (SWB) and students without disabilities (SWOD). This research aims to fill the gap through an exploratory case study, conducted in an inclusive Biology classroom in a primary school. Eight SWOD and four SWB (12 years old) participated in the study. The focus of the research was on pre-interventional and post-interventional students' knowledge about cells, and students' views on using 3DMP in Biology education. The data was analysed using Grounded Theory. The results indicate that 3DMP contributes to students' learning by improving the ability to enumerate, describe, and visualise the cell and its parts, by remediating some of the students' misconceptions and by increasing communication within a classroom. In terms of encountered obstacles, SWB noted that the quality of 3D models could cause new misconceptions. Adjusting the ratio, positioning and scaling of printed objects, inaccuracy in printing, and long printing process, are some of the problems which students encounter in 3DMP.
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ISSN:0021-9266
2157-6009
DOI:10.1080/00219266.2022.2118352